Saturday, July 28, 2012

Well in 2002 I got a 40 (yes forty) CD box set, which is basically a chronicle of all the pre-World War II blues.

Ain't nuthin' but!

I got this in 2002 from Beirut's Virgin Megastore. Back in those days as a university student (I'm an AUB graduate) I was broke most of the time, but as you know, everyone is willing to pay for his hobbies.

It's got almost all the major blues artists of the Delta blues, only Muddy Waters' music being the newest (1950).

Now that's a lot of blues!

You got the like of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin' Hopkins, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker... and each case has two CD's. All of the recordings pre-date 1950.

Listening to this collection makes you appreciate each artist's persona, writing, and style. There's a crap load of history in this box set!

I picked this up from Kuwait's Virgin Megatore (RIP) back in 2004 or 2005. I thought that you guys would like to know how this album shapes up in the world of chillout music.

Putumao is a record label that releases electronica fused world music. It's got reggae, salsa, Middle Eastern and other world music mixed with some of the best DJ's and release compilation albums.

For this release, called Blues Lounge, as Putumayo state, is "a unique collection of modern electronica blended with classic acoustic blues".

Obviously, as a blues fanatic, I had to buy this CD to see how creative electro musicians could envision the blues from their perspective.

There are 10 tracks all by various artists, including the famous Moby.

The first thing I noticed is that the word "blues" seems to be misunderstood by those DJ's. Only a handful of songs actually have bluesy undertones. The song "Pablo's Blues" samples the king of the Delta blues Robert Johnson's song "Come on in my Kitchen" to great success, as does "Death Letter" by Johnny Farmer, which samples Son House's "Death Letter Blues". Others, like "Camioux" by Boozoo Bajou feat. Wayne Martin, sounds like a standard chillout track you might hear at a nightclub before the techno hits in. Moby's track "Run On" should not even be on this album... the song's lyrics are from "God's Gonna Cut you Down", which is not even a blues song!

The album obviously should not be heard as a blues album; you will end up with a lot of hatred and disgust, repeating "THIS ISN'T BLUES" over and over in your head.

However, it is a nice break from hearing the blues standards and to have a fresh perspective. After all, everyone sees the blues in different ways.

If you are into chillout music you might enjoy this album when you invite your friends over for a cocktail. Otherwise this album should be skipped, because it doesn't do the blues well, and therefore it doesn't do electro that well either.

My favorite track is the first one, "Midnight Dream" by Little Axe. Here it is for ya:

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Rick Estrin & the Nightcats (formerly Little Charlie & the Nightcats) have released a new promotional video for their upcoming tour, which is quite hilarious and parodies the "Most Interesting Man in the World" Dos Equis beer commercials, and popular internet meme.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

On this day in 1967, jazz veteran and saxophone extraordinaire John Coltrane passed away. He was 40 years old.

The legend says "the good die young". This legend certainly holds true in many cases such as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc etc. These were all artists at their prime. Coltrane's death took many by surprise... even Miles Davis commented: "Coltrane's death shocked everyone, took everyone by surprise. I knew he hadn't looked too good... But I didn't know he was that sick—or even sick at all."

John Coltrane was no exception. I've spoken so much about Coltrane in this blog that I might sound redundant... but the truth to the matter is Coltrane remains my all time favorite jazz musician.

Today, Coltrane would have been 85. Let's commemorate this occasion by a somber, haunting track by the great man himself called "Spiritual" from the Afro Blue Impressions album:

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Downbeat Magazine has published a rare interview of John Coltrane where he discusses his influences from 1960, in full. He talks about Theolonious Monk, Miles Davis among others, and some tidbits about his sax playing.

Check out the link and read it (it's quite long) but is full of insight of the man supreme.

Over at Pledge Music, BB King and Co. are asking your help to release a career spanning 10 CD Box Set.

From the release:

By ‘pre-ordering’ or pledging, you will jump the queue and get your copy before anybody else. As the campaign progresses, you will also be able to choose from a growing range of items and some amazing extras.
By pledging, you will also gain access to a special Pledgers-only Updates Page where we will post exclusive content, news and updates to keep you both informed and entertained!
And as if all this weren’t enough, whether you choose the 10 CD Boxed Set or the 4CD cut down version every Pledger will be entitled to a very special download of the album “Lucille Talks Back” from the King of the Blues, B.B. King.(TBD)

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Last week I posted that we would have a surprise guest review for the BB King show in Lebanon, and boy did he deliver!

My friend and fellow bassist of the Jelly Shot band in Kuwait, Mubarak Jamal, was lucky enough to go and see the blues legend BB King in my home country of Lebanon, at the Byblos (Jbeil) International Festival.

So without further ado, I'm gonna let the lucky basta... uhhh I mean Mubarak tell us, in fine detail, how it all went down!

My interview with Bazaar Magazine has been published in both printed and online versions! You can view the online version [here] and find your free printed copy in select locations throughout Kuwait. (page 134-135)

I would like to thank Bazaar Magazine for being awesome, supportive, and the opportunity, and Kareem Chehayeb for conducting the interview!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Referring to my previous post about legendary bluesman BB King performing in Lebanon on July 5, which I unfortunately cannot attend, Speakin' the Blues has agreed with a surprise guest, who will be attending, to write a review of the show.

Monday, July 2, 2012

A new photographic and documentary exhibit by David Tegnell & Phyllis Bridges called "John Coltrane VS the Jazz Critics 1961-1966" will open from August 24 - September 16 at the Yalik's Modern Art Gallery in North Carolina.

Here's what the official website had to say about the free exhibition:

Yalik's Modern Art presents a documentary exhibit recounting former High Point resident John Coltrane's uneasy relationship with jazz critics during the tumultuous Civil Rights period. The exhibit, titled Coltrane vs. the Jazz Critics: 1961-1966, coincides with the 2012 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, Saturday, September 1st.
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Through an examination of photographs, letters, record reviews, commentaries, musical examples, and artifacts, Coltrane and the Jazz Critics details the strategies Coltrane employed to weather a concerted campaign by Down Beat magazine to discredit his musical experiments in the years before Coltrane produced his most original and enduring recordings.
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The exhibit was conceived by David Tegnell, author of the article, "Hamlet: Coltrane's Origins," Jazz Perspectives (2007), and produced by gallery owner, Phyllis Bridges. Coltrane vs. the Jazz Critics is being underwritten by the Hayden-Harman Foundation and Friends of John Coltrane, and will run from August 24 - September 16th.

James Cotton was born on July 1, 1935. Cotton, a legendary and influential blues harp (harmonica) player, is known for his tenure with the Muddy Waters Blues Band, having played on many of the mid to late 50's classic hits. He later on reunited with Waters for his comeback album "Hard Again" in 1977.

You can't miss his intro harp:

He would become a great solo artist in his own right, winning a Grammy Award in 1996 Traditional Blues Album Category, "Deep in the Blues".

He is still performing to this day... a true champion of the Chicago blues!

This Miles Davis compilation is more of a greatest hits than a collection of all the CD's recorded with the first Miles Davis Quintet ( John Coltrane on the tenor saxophone, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums) the mid 50's.

This 10 track collection includes select tracks of 5 albums: Cookin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, Relaxin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, Workin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, Steamin' with The Miles Davis Quintet, and Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants.

This is a great quick album to pick up if you want that mid '50's hard bop sound.